Information & Support for Door Supervisors - National Doorwatch

On the evening of Thursday 28th October National Doorwatch were invited to attend the first SIA hosted Round-table discussion on the future of regulation in the industry. National Doorwatch Chair, Ian Fox, said "given the welcome we recieved, and the genuine desire to hear our point of view - the ball is now ours to drop!"

National Doorwatch invited to play their part in the future of licensing by the SIA.

This first round-table meeting was held at the Hatton in London.  Its purpose was to hear the SIA's vision for the future of regulation, and the proposed strategy going forward.  The meeting was extremely well attended, given the short notice involved, and all the major players were either their or represented through their respective Trade Association.

Baroness Ruth Henig, opened the meeting and began by thanking the industry for their support over the previous months.  She made it clear it was their unity of purpose which had made it possible for a considered review to take place.  Following the Baroness was Hazel Russell the Director of Strategy and Corporate Services, who outlined the evenings agenda, before passing over to C.E.O. Bill Butler.  Bill then went through the key elements of the SIA proposal.  However this was a time frame in which the tranisition from central licensing in its current form, to the new industry regulated format, would have to take place.  It was made crystal clear by the Coalition Government that this must be completed as soon as possible after the Olympics, and well before the next General Election.

Bill Butler felt was a target that was more than achievable, provided the industry worked together.  He made it clear working together, meant all sections of the industry, and not just those with vested interests.  This was welcomed by National Doorwatch, as the contribution by individual license payers (not companies) is approximately 60% of the SIA income from that revenue stream.  This is not an insignificant amount, especially when holding a license is a legal requirement.  Rest assured, National Doorwatch will use this fact to justify inclusion at all levels of the transition process, as well as the fact they have actually delivered measurable results on the ground.

Bill was, followed by James Kelly, the Chief Executive of the BSIA, and head of the newly formed Security Alliance.  He spoke of the need to be cautiously optomistic, and ensure any new regulation was built on solid foundations.  He repeated the point made earlier that it was only the intervention of the industry, and the prospect of the devolved Governments of Scotlan, and Northern Ireland, going their own way that made this possible. Following this the round-table discussions began, and National Doorwatch were able to inform them that this was a real opportunity to build from the ground up.  The opportunity to build something which accurately reflected the needs, and professionalism of the modern day Security Operative.